# It's chi-pote-lay, dammit. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 28, 2003, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-chi-pote-lay-dammit/158050 "2003-02-28T03:01:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2003, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-chi-pote-lay-dammit/158050/41 "2003-02-28T22:31:51Z")
You wanna see someone make an ass of himself of this issue? Go [here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?postid=2898648#post2898648). Don’t worry, we very kindly ripped him a new one further down the page. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![CBEscapee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b19c9b/32.png) [@CBEscapee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CBEscapee)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2003, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-chi-pote-lay-dammit/158050/42 "2003-02-28T23:16:52Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by mangeorge \* > \*\*Barbacoa = barbeque, some say. \*\* I’m sure you are talking of the origin of the word. Because the traditional Mexican _barbacoa_ and the traditional American barbeque are two very different things other than both use a dry heat. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2003, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-chi-pote-lay-dammit/158050/43 "2003-02-28T23:41:00Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by FranticMad \* > \*\*So have we decreed that it is > chi-po-tl, not chi-po-tlay or anything else? > > Who’s going to tell the American Heritage Dictionary? \*\* No. When this issue first became important to me, a couple of weeks ago, I asked my buddy at work, Tony “Tony, what’s that smoked, ripe jalapeno pepper that’s used in so many sauces in mexican dishes”. Tony’s my source for all things Mexican. He said, all in one word; 😉 chi (soft i, as in itch, but with a hint of the whole ‘e’ sound) po (as in po’ boy) (accent goes here) tlay (the ‘lay’ part was short, quickly spoken) Just like in the link way up there, only spoken more quickly. Does everyone here know that people in Mexico speak spanish in many different accents, just like we do english in the US? ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2003, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-chi-pote-lay-dammit/158050/44 "2003-02-28T23:56:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by CBEscapee \* > \*\*I’m sure you are talking of the origin of the word. Because the traditional Mexican _barbacoa_ and the traditional American barbeque are two very different things other than both use a dry heat. \*\* Yes, the origin of the word. And that’s just what I’ve heard. Don’t know for sure. How are the cooking methods different? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Cynical](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ee59a6/32.png) [@Mr.Cynical](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Cynical)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2003, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-chi-pote-lay-dammit/158050/45 "2003-03-01T00:12:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Spooky \* > **Mr. Cynical! I thought that you had left us forever.** I got better. \ ---
**Author:** ![Lorenzo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4da419/32.png) [@Lorenzo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lorenzo)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2003, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-chi-pote-lay-dammit/158050/46 "2003-03-01T05:01:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by mangeorge \* > \*\*We tend, sometimes I think, to try to draw hard lines between authentic this and authentic that where none really exist. > Where cultures contact, they blend. Good. I’m glad for Taco Bell. \*\* True enough, but when they blend they tend to blend in the middle, not at the extremes. I believe there exists a continuum from 100% authentic to 0% authentic with the greatest overlap between between 40 - 60% 1) Vegetable soup sprinkled with cuts of meat difficult to find in most US grocery stores or 2) menudo = nearly 100% authentic. Mexican Pizza at Taco Bell TM = nearly 0% authentic or contrived. Perhaps **Mangeorge’s** point is better taken when applied to pronunciation of English words once thought of as foreign. Imagine someone pronouncing the word “hors d’oeuvre” today in the states with a French accent. Laughable. And one day the much beloved “chipotle” may become assimilated into the US lexicon too and pronounced in its own special way. However, I do hope that deep fried “U” shaped corn tortillas filled with cumin and paprika seasoned ground beast, shredded iceberg lettuce and shredded mild cheddar cheese never catch on with Mexican _amas de casa_ ---
**Author:** ![CBEscapee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b19c9b/32.png) [@CBEscapee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CBEscapee)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2003, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-chi-pote-lay-dammit/158050/47 "2003-03-01T05:07:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by mangeorge \* > \*\*Yes, the origin of the word. And that’s just what I’ve heard. Don’t know for sure. > How are the cooking methods different? \*\* Authentic and traditional Mexican [barbacoa](http://mexico.udg.mx/cocina/carnes/BarbacoaPrep.html) is lamb wrapped in maguey leaves, cooked in a pit. American barbeque is grilling over hot coals which would be _asado a las brasas_ here. _Carne asada, pollo asado etc_ aren’t _barbacoa_. ---
**Author:** ![pervertatoid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f07891/32.png) [@pervertatoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pervertatoid)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2003, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-chi-pote-lay-dammit/158050/48 "2003-03-01T17:28:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bad News Baboon \* > \*\*IMO, one of the biggest indicators of a non-native speaker is saying -lay for words containing or ending in le. > > it should be -leh not -lay. > > for example: > Leche: Leh-che not Lay-che > > Queso is often said Kay-so when it is Keh-so. > > **CBEscapee** is correct that the tle is one syllable. > > For English speakers, the best way to say it: > > Chi-poh-tleh. > > I add the H because writing it “po” makes it sound like it sould read poe, which it doesn’t. > > Not that it matters anyway. In Mexico, burritos like that are never served (to the best of my knowledge). The burritos I know are more typical in size to a ‘breakfast burrito’. > They usually only contain one ingredient. > I have never ever had a burrito with rice in it, in Mexico. > > I brought a chipotle-style burrito home to Mom once and she asked me what kind of food it was, and how unusual that it was in a tortilla. > > Which brings me to another gripe: > Tortillas are not to be steamed! Arg! They taste raw and doughy! > > This concludes my post. > Now you all know why Mr. Baboon hates going out to eat Mexican food with me. > 🙂 \*\* ALRIGHT!!! A well-written explanation on how non-Spanish-speakers screw Spanish words up so much. 😉 (Now, I’m not saying I pronounce Japanese great or anything, but…if someone were to explain what I was screwing up when I tried to pronounce something in Japanese, I’d be happy to fix it. Maybe people will actually LEARN from this post.) 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2003, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-chi-pote-lay-dammit/158050/49 "2003-03-01T17:43:26Z")
I’ve eaten that. Close, anyway. I don’t know what kind if leaves were used, but everything was as in your link. It was at a church “pot luck” when I was a youngster. I went to those often. Lots of food and lots of beer. Mariachi music. Best mexican food Ive ever had. There was a lot of showing-off of culinary skills, I think. 🙂 Did you know potato salad is popular with Mexicans (in Bakersfield). Time for some breakfast. Chilaquillas. Mmmm. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2003, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-chi-pote-lay-dammit/158050/50 "2003-03-01T17:54:45Z")
Ok, so I looked it up; Chilaquiles. ---
**Author:** ![Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5fc32e/32.png) [@Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bad_News_Baboon)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2003, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-chi-pote-lay-dammit/158050/51 "2003-03-01T18:56:00Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by pervertatoid \* > \*\*ALRIGHT!!! A well-written explanation on how non-Spanish-speakers screw Spanish words up so much. 😉 (Now, I’m not saying I pronounce Japanese great or anything, but…if someone were to explain what I was screwing up when I tried to pronounce something in Japanese, I’d be happy to fix it. Maybe people will actually LEARN from this post.) 🙂 \*\* My dad is big into linguistics and my Mom is Mexican. But, I think the reason you like my post is cause you sensed that originally, I am from El Paso. There are quite a few El Pasoans it seems. You should have a dopefiesta sometime. Except don’t invite **Cuate**. He’d make you eat at Chico’s…just so he could rub it in! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![CBEscapee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b19c9b/32.png) [@CBEscapee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CBEscapee)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2003, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-chi-pote-lay-dammit/158050/52 "2003-03-01T19:10:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by mangeorge \* > \*\* > Time for some breakfast. Chilaquillas. Mmmm. \*\* Hey that’s what I had!! 😃 Chilaquiles with chicken, cream and chopped onion and chile serranos. Refried beans on the side. ---
**Author:** ![CBEscapee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b19c9b/32.png) [@CBEscapee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CBEscapee)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2003, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-chi-pote-lay-dammit/158050/53 "2003-03-02T05:41:11Z")
While we’re on the subject of _chiles_ why do so many call them habañero, it’s haba **n** ero. ---
**Author:** ![pervertatoid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f07891/32.png) [@pervertatoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pervertatoid)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2003, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-chi-pote-lay-dammit/158050/54 "2003-03-03T06:53:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bad News Baboon \* > \*\*My dad is big into linguistics and my Mom is Mexican. > > But, I think the reason you like my post is cause you sensed that originally, I am from El Paso. > > There are quite a few El Pasoans it seems. You should have a dopefiesta sometime. > > Except don’t invite **Cuate**. > > He’d make you eat at Chico’s…just so he could rub it in! > > 🙂 \*\* Haha…Chico’s… ---
**Author:** ![caveman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/caveman/32/7242_2.png) [@caveman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/caveman)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2003, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-chi-pote-lay-dammit/158050/55 "2003-03-03T15:13:33Z")
Feh! Going to a Chipotle is only acceptable if there isn’t a [Freebird’s](http://www.freebirds.com/) within 100 miles. And, joy of joys, I’m gettin’ one right next door to me this Fall! Woo-hoo! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-chi-pote-lay-dammit/158050.md?page=2)